Fluid clutch, governor controlled



Nov'. 16, 1948. w. H.- HARsTlcK FLUID CLUTCH, GOVERNOR CONTROLLED I 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed D90. 31, 1943 JL l Nov. 16, 1948. w. H. HARsTlcK 2,453,791

FLUD CLUTCH, GOVERNOR CAONTIROLLED 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 31. 1943 Nov. 16, 1948 I FLUID CLIJ'ICH, GOVERNOR CONTROLLED William I-I. Harstlck, Richmond, Ind., assigner to I International Harvester tion of New Jersey l Company, a COIDOI'VR.-

Application December-31, 1943, serial No. 516,568@

This invention relates to a centrifugal device. More specifically, it relates to a fluid drive mechanlsm particularly adaptable for cream separa` tors or the like.

In the application of electric motors as a source of power for devices such as centrifugal separators where it is required to build up a large 11 Claims. .(Cl. 192--58) inertia of Ithe rotating parts, before operating Y speed is attained, difficulty has been encountered due to the low torque output vof conventional motors at speeds substantially below their normalv operating speed. Also, in driving devices such as cream separators where speeds are required far beyond conventional or even high-speed electric motors, the gearing for operating at such high speeds is expensive to manufacture and difcult to maintain in quiet operating condition.

A principal object of the present invention is Yto provide a fluid drive for a high-speed centrifugal device, such as a cream separator.

Another important object is to provide a. fluid coupling device for an electric motor-driven centrifugal device incorporating means for obtaining a substantial increase in speed ratio between the motor-operated driving element and the driven element.l

Another object is to provide means for continuously delivering fluid to the fluid coupling device and for removing excess liquid therefrom,

so as to maintain constant volume of liquid in the operating portion of the fluid drive.

Another object is to provide a governor device effective to maintain the speed of the driven element within predetermined limits.

These objects and others, which will be apparent from the following description, are attained by constructions, two of which are shown embodied ina cream separator drive.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a conventional type of cream separator with the body portion broken away in section 4to show an installation of the fluid drive device of the invention;

Figure 2 is a section of the driving and. driven shafts of the fluid drive power transmission,

mechanism of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing the adjacent portions of the fluid drive elements; and

Figure 4 is a section similar to'Figure 2, showing a modification with a governor device incorporated.

Figure 1 shows in outline a conventional type of cream separator having a base I0 and a body portion or housing II spaced from the basel by l shown in Figures 1 and 2, is provided with a an intermediate section I2. The intermediate section I2 carries a support I3 for fluid receptacles. 'A supply can It is carried by an upstanding bracket IIL on the housing Il. Said housing is also formed with an open top cylindrical portion II", in which a. conventional supporting bowl I5 is mounted. A skimmed milk spout l5', a cream spout I5", 'and a cover I6 are shown above the bowl I5. Y Y

\ A supporting structure Il for the bowl and a spindle I8 for driving the bowl is also illustrated in Figure 1". It will be understood that all these elements are conventional, and that in so farl as the present invention is concerned,

reference will be made only to the spindle I8,

which is directly connected to the bowl for driving it at the high speed required for the separation of milk. y

, A vertically positioned motor I9 is mounted in thebase I Il being secured to and carried by the intermediate section I2. An upwardly extending drive shaft 20, projecting from the motor,'as

coupling member 23 which is secured by rawhide leather pins 24 toa second coupling member 25. Said leather 'pins are fitted in `alined openings formed in the coupling members 23 and 25 providing a resilient drive, which does not transmit vibration or noise to or from the motor shaft.

The housing Il is formed with an opening 26 centrally in the bottom thereof into which a flanged supporting member 21 is tted from the lower end. Said member may be removably or permanently secured to the housing in liquid? tight relation with respect thereto. The supporting member v2'! carries a ball-bearing assembly 2 at its upper end and a ball-bearing assembly 29 at its lower end. vA driving shaft 30 supported by said bearings receives power from the motor shaft 20 by means ofthe coupling member 25 which is secured to the lowerend of the shaft 30.

A fluid coupling impeller member 3l is keyed on the upper end of the shaft 30. Said member has a hub portion 32, an annular reservoir portion 33 formed as an annulus in a horizontal plane, and a cylindrical and a peripheral portion 34 extending outwardly beyond the reservoir portion 33. Said peripheral portion is channel shaped in cross-section to provide a liquid receptacle during rotation. Theupper portion of this channel-shaped section is formed by an annular ring 35 fitted into the top of the fluid coupling member which is otherwise formed in one .sufi

' piece. The radial depth f the annulus a5 is significant as it determines the depth of the fluid in the channel-shaped section of the fluid coupling member during rotation. l

A plurality of inwardly extending ribs or vanes 36 projecting from the bottom of the channelshaped section of the iiuid coupling member 3|, provides means effective to drive the liquid around with the uid coupling during rotation.

The spindle I8, which is the driven shaft of this device,. carries a pair of fluid driven elements 31 which have a plurality of vvaries 38 formed therearound. The vanes may take the particular shape shown in Figure 3, in which one edge 39 is formed substantially cna radius, the other edge48 sloping away from the radius. As shown in both Figures 2 and 3, the ribs or vanes 36 on the fluid coupling member 3i terminate in slightly spaced relation with respect to the vanes `39 on the uid drive elements 31.

l As indicated in Figure 2, the bottom of the housing I| serves as a liquid reservoir. A bore 4| in the wall of the supporting member 21 serves as a conduit to deliver liquid into a chamber 42 formed in the supporting' member 21 between the bearings 28 and 29. A liquid seal is formed around the shaft 30 to prevent the escape oi oil therefrom.y Said seal consists of two baille members, one,of which, 43, is carried by the shaft 30 extending along said shaft in contact therewith to the upper bearing 28 and then downwardly in spaced relation withk respect to the shaft. The otherbaille member 44 is secured in liquid-tight relation between the bearing 29 andthe supporting member and extends upwardly between and out of contact with the two spaced portions of the baille member 43. It will be understood that liquid will remain at the same level within the chamber 42 as in the housing II lwhen the device is not in operation.

y fluid coupling construction is similar to the The baille structure and the chambery 42 are y shaped to cause a continuous upward movement of oil during rotation .of the driving shaft up-f wardly through'the bearing 28.

The upper end of the supporting member 21A of the annular member 35 is cut out at v48' to` permit passage of the spindle I8. Said cover is secured in position by a bracket I1'l fixed` thereto and to thespindle supporting structure I1..

In the 'operation of the power transmission and coupling device shown in Figure 2, the` motor is first put into operation, whereby the speed oi the coupling member 3| is rapidly increased. Liquid in the reservoir 33 will be thrown out by the centrifugal action into the channelshaped portion' 35 of the coupling member forming an annular layer around the interior of-said member of a depth 4determined by the radial` depth of the annular member 35.` As the fluid coupling member 3| rotates, the layer of liquid carried internally thereby will engage the v'anes 38 on the uid coupling elements 31, exerting drive torque against said elements. As there .is a great deal of inertia to overcome and momentum to develop in bringingl the separator bowl up to speed vduring the initial stage of operation, 'Y

there will be a greater percentage yof yslippage edge of which the ball 52 seats.

fluid couplings now used extensively in the automotive vehicle field. As the effective radius of the vanes 38 withrespect to their center of rotation and of the vanes 38 is greatly different, there will be a step up in speed of the driven element. This speed ratio will be approximately the ratio of the radius of the tips of the vanes on the respective members. This construction may be roughly compared to an internal gear drive in which the teeth are separated until they clear cach other. The driving elort is then dueto the inertia of the liquid and the shear of t e liquid entrained between the adjacent rotating surfaces. The construction could also be compared to an internal type of friction drive with the surfaces supported so that the coefllcient of friction accomplishing the drive would be `ldeter-g mined by the shear of the liquid between thel surfaces rather than by the coefilcient of friction by the engaging parts of the friction drive.

As the inertia of the cream separator bowl and the associated parts is overcome, the drive will approach the--speed ratio determined by the effective radii of the driving and driven elements. After operating speed has been attained, the power input of a device such as a cream separator is not great, and the power to be transmitted through the fluid coupling will-be relatively small, whereby the shearing action of the liquid will maintain the drive with only a predeter-minable percentage of slippage. The thickness of the liquid annulus in the coupling memlar member 35 which acts as a regulating means.

In Figure 4 a construction somewhat similar to that shown in Fjigure 2 is illustrated. The same reference characters designate the supporting structure I1', the spindle I8, lthe driven coupling elements 31 and the vanes 38 thereon, the fluid coupling member 3|, the annular cover member 35, and the vanes or ribs 38. The hous-L ing III and the motor shaft 20 also bear the same reference characters.

In the construction shown in Figurei, a liquid circulating means is provided by a conical member 41 carried by the fluid coupling member 3| spaced from lthe shaft 20. Said member delivers liquid v upwardly through a channel 48 formed in the hub 32 which also acts as a depth regula tor for liquid during standing of the structure when it is not operating. Suitable sealing means including a sealing ring 49 are provided for preventing the escape of liquid from the housing I0.

The lower end of the spindle shaft I8, in the construction of Figure 4, carries a specially constructed upwardly extending sleeve 5l) which is integral with the upperfiuid element 31. A similar sleeve 58, integral with the lower fluid coupling element 31, extends downwardly below the end of the shaft I8, providing a valve chamber 5|. A ball valve 52 is mounted in said chamber, being resiliently urged downwardly by alight spring 53.

A cup 54, fitted over-the lower sleeve 50, is provided w'ith a central opening 56 and a conical portion 51 around said opening vagainst the upper The conical portion of the cup 54 is immersed in oil and as the cup rotates, upon rotation of thespindle I8, the

centrifugal force of the oil upon the inner sloping surface of the conical portion causes the oil to vbe forced upwardly in a continuous pumping manner. The inner sloping surface of the conical portion and the centrifugal action of oil uponv the upper portion of the upper sleeve. A receptacie i fitted tothe bottom of the supporting structure i1 for the spindle is -provided with' an internal upturned flange Il adjacent to and spaced from the upper portion of the upper sleeve SII. Liquid thrown from .'the channels 51 is received by said receptacle and delivered through ausm:

6 1 liquid. vanes in said channel. said first-named fluid coupling member projecting into said second fluid coupling member with the venes thereof an opening 82 in the bottom thereof, and through an opening in a cover plate M to a reservoir ti, formed by a receptacle it, secured to the cover plate. Said cover plate may be secured by any means to the casing I1, for example, by .a bracket as shown in Figure 2. The reservoir 6lhas a metered opening i1 in the i bottom thereof,

through which the liquid is delivered back to the'so `velop a pressure proportional to the speed ofthe fluid coupling member 3|.

In the operation of the modification disclosed in Figure 4, a governor action is obtained by the ball valve mechanism and the associated parts. When the spindle Il attains the desired speed, the spring tension il is so arranged that the ball 52 remains on its seat. When the spindle I8 exceeds the predetermined speed as controlled by the action-on the spring 53, the pressure of fluid in the conical portion 51 of the cup 54 becomes sufilcient due to centrifugal action to lift the ball from the seat and pump liquid upwardly into the valve chamber 5I and through the channels 5l into the receptacle 60,. From said receptacle it is delivered into th'e reservoir 85 from which it escapes at a metered rate through the orifice 61.

Liquid is then temporarily removed from the fluid coupling member 3i, thereby reducing the thickness of liquid in the annular operating band of liquid, consequently reducing the drag on the vanes 38 of the driven element. The liquid is slowly returned to the fluid coupling member 3i, which assures maintaining the operation of the separator spindle very close to its optimum operating speed as predetermined by the spring setting on the ball valve.

Only two modifications of; the fluid coupling drive of the invention have been shown. The device illustrated in Figure 4 incorporates a governor to maintain the 4drive within the desired speed range. Such'governor action may be necessary in some conditions due to. the change in oil viscosity used in a iluid coupling with changes in `temperature. Other variations, such as the variation inthe load imposed on the driven devices may also require some type of governing device. Applicant contemplates as his invention all fluid drive devices and governing means th'erefor falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: v

1. A power transmitting means comprising in combination with a power furnishing means, a vaned fluid coupling member, a second fluid coupling member mounted for rotation, said member having a channel adapted to contain a body of closely spaced with respect to the vanes in the channel, a centrifugal fluid vpumping device carried by one of saldffluid couplingmembers, an inlet to said vdevice disposed in the fluid in said sec- 'ond fluid coupling member, said pumping device being formed to develop a pressure proportional to the speed of the first-named fluid coupling niember. a fluid container, means for delivering fluid from *the pumping device to said container, and means for continually delivering liquid from the container to the fluid coupling member.

2. A power transmitting means comprising in combination with a power furnishing means, a vaned fluid coupling member, a second fluid coupling member mounted for rotation on an axis eccentric with respect to the axis of said vaned fluid coupling member, said member having a channel adapted to contain a body ofliquid, varies in said channel, said first-named fluid coupling member projecting into said second fluid coupling member with the vanes thereof closely spaced with respect to the vanes in the channel, a centrifugal fluid pumping device carried |by one of said fluid coupling members, an inlet to said 'device disposed in the fluid in said second fluid coupling member, said pumping device being formed to deilrst-named fluid coupling memb'er,..a fluid control element positioned to cut oil.' the flow of fluid from said pump until sufficient pressure is developed to overcome the resilient force acting on said control element, a fluid container, means for delivering fluid from the pumping device to said container, and means for continually delivering liquid from the container .to the fluid coupling member.

3. vA power transmitting means comprising in combination with a power furnishing means, a vaned fluid driven element, a uid coupling member mounted for rotation and operatively connected to the means for furnishing power,` said member having va channel adapted to contain a body of liquid, vanes in said channel, said fluid driven element projecting into said fluid coupling member, a centrifugal fluid pumping device carried byv said uid driven element, an inlet to said device disposed in the fluid in said fluid coupling member, said pumping device being formed to deliver uid proportional to the speed of the driven element, a fluid container, said driven element being provided with conduit means for delivering iluid from the pumping device to said container. said container having a. calibrated opening in continual communication with said channel for continually delivering liquid to the fluid coupling member.

4. A power transmitting means comprising in combination with a power furnishing means, a vaned fluid driven element, a fluid coupling mem- -ber mounted for rotation' and operatively connected to the means for furnishing power, saldmem-V posed in the uid in said fluid coupling member, said pumping device being formed to develop a pressurep'roportional to the speed vof the driven element, a fluid control element positioned to out off the ilow of fluid from-said pumping device until the driven element develops a sufficient pressure.

to actuate and open said fluid control element, a

having a calibrated opening for continually delivering liquid to the fluid coupling member.

5. A power transmittingmeans comprising in combination with a power furnishing means, a vaned fluid driven element. a fluid coupling member mounted for rotation on a vertical axis and operatively connected to the means for furnishing power, said member having a channel adapted to contain a body of liquid, vanes in said channel, said fluid driven element projecting into said fluid coupling member with the vanes thereof closely spaced with respect to the vanes in the channel,I a centrifugal fluid vpumping device carried by said 8 driven element attains a predetermined speed, said container delivering the liquid back to the fluid coupling member to maintain a substantial constant speed of the driven element.

8. A power transmitting means. comprising in combination with a power furnishing means, a

" vaned fluid driven element, a fluid coupling memfluid driven element, an inlet Ito said device disv posed in the fluid in said fluid coupling member, said pumping device being formed to deliver fluid proportional to the speed of the drive element, a fluid container position-ed above the channel of said fluid coupling member, said driven element being provided with conduit means for delivering fluid from the pumping device to said container, said container having a calibrated opening for continually delivering liquid by gravity tothe fluid coupling member.

6. A power transmitting means comprising in combination with a power furnishing means, a

vaned fluid driven element, a fluid coupling member mounted for rotation on a vertical axis and operatively connected -to the means for furnishing power, said member having a channel adapted to contain a body of liquid, vanes in said channel, said fluid driven element projecting into said fluid coupling member with the vanes thereof closely spaced with respect .to the vanes in the channel, a centrifugal fluid pumping device carried by said fluid driven element, an inlet to said device disposed in the fluid in said fluid coupling member, saidpumping device being formed to develop a pressure proportional to the speed of the driven element, a fluid control element positioned to cut off the flow of fluid from said pumping device until the driven element develops a sufllcient pressure to actuate and open said control element, a fluid container, said driven element being `provided with conduit means for delivering fluid from the pumping'device to said container, said container having a calibrated opening for continually delivering liquid .to the fluid coupling member.

7. A power transmitting means comprising in combination with a power furnishing means, a

ber mounted for rotation and operatively connected to said power furnishing means, said member having an internal -annular channel adapted to contain a body of liquid, vanes in said channel, said fluid driven element projecting into said fluid coupling member with the vanes thereof closely spaced with respect to the vanes in the channel, a cone-shaped centrifugal. fluid pumping device operatively connected to said fluid driven element. an inlet yto said device disposed in the fluid in said fluid coupling member, said pumping device being formed to develop a pressure proportional to the speed of the driven element, conduit means for delivering fluid from the pumping device to a container, said container having a calibrated opening for delivering liquid to the fluid coupling member and being of a capacity to hold a substantial portion of the liquid normally contained in the fluid coupling member, said pumping device and said container with the calibrated opening -therein acting to provide a -governing means .to remove liquid y from the coupling member when the driven elevaned fluid driven element, a fluid coupling member mounted for rotation and operatively connected 4to said power furnishing means, said member having an internal annular channel adapted to contain a body of liquid, vanes in said channel, said fluid driven element projecting into said fluid coupling member with lthe vanes thereof closely spaced with respect to the vanes in the channel, a cone-shaped centrifugal fluid pumping device operatively connected to said fluid driven element, an inlet to said device disPOsed in the fluid in said fluid coupling member, said pumping device being formed .to develop -a pressure proportional to the speed of the driven element, conduit means for delivering fluid from the pumping device lto a contalner, said container having an opening for delivering liquid to the fluid coupling member and being of a capacity 'to hold a substantial portion of the liquid normally contained in the fluid coupling member, said pumping device and said container acting to provide a governing mean-s to re- Y Amove liquid from the coupling member when the ment exceeds a predetermined speed, said -container delivering the liquid back to the fluid coupling member at a rate sufllcient to maintain a substantial lconstant speed of the driven element.

9. A power transmitting -means comprising in combination with a -power furnishing means, a

. vaned fluid driven element, a fluid coupling member mounted for rotation and operatively connected to said power furnishing means, said member having an internal annular'channel adapted to contain a body of liquid, vanes in said channel, f

said fluid driven .element projecting into said fluid coupling member with the vanes 'thereof closely spaced with respect to the vanes in the channel, a fluid pumping device operatively connected lto said fluid driven element, an inlet Vto said device disposed in the fluid lin said fluid coupling member. said pumping device being formed to develop a pressure proportional tothe speed of,l the driven element, a resiliently mounted fluid control element positioned to cut off the flow of fluid from said pump until the driven element -attains a speed sufficient to overcome the resilient force acting on said control element, conduit means for delivering fluid from the pumping device to a container, said container having a calibrated opening for delivering liquid to the fluid coupling member and being of a capacity .to hold a substantial portion of the liquid normally contained inthe fluid fiom the coupling member, said container deliv-v ering the liquid back to the fluid coupling member at a rate suflicient to maintain a substantial constant speed of the driven element.

10. A power transmitting means comprising in combination with a power furnishing means, a vaned fluid driven element, a fluid coupling member mounted for rotation on an axis eccentric with respect toffthe axis of said vaned fluid driven element, said member having an internal annular channel adapted to contain a body of liquid, vanes in said channel, said fluid driven element projecting 'into said fluid -coupling member with the vanes thereof closely spaced with respect to the vanes in 9 y the channel, a duid pumping device carried by said duid driven element, an inlet to said device disposed in the duid in said duid coupling member. said pumping device being formed yto develop a pressure proportional to the speed of the driven element, a resiliently mounted duid control element positioned to cut oi! the dow of duid from said pump until the driven element attains a speed sudlcient to overcome .the resilient force acting on said control element, aduid container, said driven element being provided with conduit means for delivering duid from the pumping device to said container, said container having a calibrated opening for delivering liquid to the duid coupling member. y

l1. A power transmitting means comprising -in combination with a power furnishing means, a vaned fluid drive element, a duid coupling mem? ber mounted for rotation on an axis eccentric with respect to the axis of said vaned duid driven element. said member having an internal annular channel adapted to contain a body of liquid, vanes in said channel, said fluid driven element projecting into said fluid coupling member` with the vanes thereof closely spaced with respect to Ithe vanes in the channel, a duid pumping device carried by said duid driven element, an inlet to said device disposed in the duid in said duid coupling member. said .pumping device being formed .to develop a pressure proportional to the speed of the driven element. a' reslllently mounted duid 4control element positioned to cut of! the dow of duid from said pump until the driven element attains a speed sudlclent to overcome the resilient torce acting on 10 i said control element, a fluid4 container, said drive element being -provided with conduit means for delivering duid from the pumping device to said container, said container having al calibrated opening for delivering liquid to the duid coupling member and being of a capacity to hold a substan- .tlal portion of the liquid normally contained in the iluid coupling member, said pumping device and said container with the calibrated opening ythere-- in acting to provide a governing means to remove liquid from -the coupling member, said container delivering the liquid back to the duid coupling member at a rate sunlclent to maintain a substantial constant speed of the driven element'.

WILLIAM H. HARS'I'ICK.

` REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the die of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

